U.S. Chamber’s Karen Harbert: Making America an energy superpower

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Under the leadership of President and CEO Karen Harbert, the Global Energy Institute works to build national and international support for U.S. energy through advocacy and education. BIC Magazine recently visited with Harbert to learn more about the effects of political leadership and regulations, as well as the steps the Energy Institute is currently taking to advance and promote an energy-positive agenda.

Karen Harbert - April 2018

HARBERT: First and foremost, there is obviously a much different tone and tenor on energy as a whole from this administration. There is now a sense that the administration is seeking to work with us and not against us as it so often seemed over the past eight years.

There have already been numerous specific regulatory actions taken that are demonstrating that commitment. Lifting the exploration moratorium and expanding access to drilling areas have led to new leasing opportunities, especially in the Arctic and in Alaska. There are efforts underway to repeal or revise overly burdensome regulations that duplicate state efforts or unnecessarily restrict investment in energy production -- such as federal rules on fracking, venting and flaring, and methane. The same is true for broader regulations such as EPA's water rule -- known as "Waters of the U.S." -- as well as the practice of "sue and settle," which often results in regulation through litigation and which had become commonplace with the previous administration.

And finally, there have been some high-profile approvals of longstanding projects such as Keystone XL and the Dakota Access Pipeline, which are sending the right signals to investors that America is back open for business when it comes to energy infrastructure.

In order to help keep track of all these changes, we recently teamed up with a law firm to launch an Energy Tracker that continuously compiles the latest updates on the whirlwind of energy-related regulatory reforms that are currently underway. It is available on our website for those interested in following the countless energy policy and litigation actions that have accompanied the new administration.

BIC: How does the institute benefit the energy industry?

HARBERT: I think we're uniquely situated because we represent energy across the spectrum. There are specific groups and trade associations with one piece or another, but we're the group that takes a step back, looks at the big picture and finds ways for all of the industry to work together for a common benefit. At the chamber, which is the world's largest business trade association, we have the ability to convene some of the most interesting and influential policymakers and business leaders on the planet, and we're always taking advantage of that.

BIC: What is the Energy Institute's plan for America to secure its energy future? What does America need to do to make it a true energy superpower?

HARBERT: We believe that America is well on its way to becoming a global energy superpower. The remarkable thing is how quickly we have transitioned from an era of energy scarcity to an era of energy abundance. For example, in February, U.S. crude oil production topped an average of 10 million barrels per day for the first time since 1970 and the U.S. became a net exporter of natural gas for the first time in 60 years. This remarkable growth in production obviously has huge implications for our economy and our national security. Not only did it occur without government intervention, it occurred despite obstacles from the federal government. The next step is for us to set policies that match today's reality. We need to modernize the federal government's byzantine regulatory and permitting systems to match the incredible progress we've been making and allow full realization of our newfound energy abundance. That means modernizing our grid and providing needed infrastructure to allow us to move molecules.

HARBERT: #EnergyStrong is a broad campaign we're conducting to increase awareness of the ways American energy is vital to our economy and our well-being. The industry's response to Hurricane Harvey really demonstrated how deeply ingrained energy is in the fabric of communities and how fundamental it is to our everyday lives. The series of videos we produced showcases some individual stories from companies that were on the ground in the aftermath of the hurricane -- the truly heroic actions that were taken to help save lives and bring the impacted areas back to normal as quickly as possible. The next phase of the campaign will focus on the amazing technology and innovation the energy industry has developed and is using that many people don't realize even exists. For instance, one of our latest videos is a profile of a one-of-a-kind new energy park in Michigan that Siemens has built and is now operating.

BIC: What success has the Global Energy Institute experienced recently?

HARBERT: The institute was founded 10 years ago as the U.S. Chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy. Now that we've "graduated" from our single-digit years, we thought it was time to change our name to better reflect America's growing role as an energy provider to the entire world, so we're now the Global Energy Institute. The institute has been at the forefront of many of the most important policy debates in Washington, from getting regulations right to lifting the ban on crude oil exports to countless other issues throughout the past decade.

I think we're known for producing thoughtful analysis on timely and important topics. During the 2016 campaign cycle, for instance, we launched the "Energy Accountability Series," which asked a series of "what if " questions about relevant policy proposals that had been made by candidates and opinion makers. Putting actual facts and analysis behind some of these campaign platform proposals was illustrative and helped bring clarity to the public debate. We're also proud of our national grassroots network, our relationship with thousands of state and local chambers that help amplify our message, and our work that extends all the way to international conferences, where we represent the business community when important energy issues are debated at UN conferences and other similar venues.

BIC: What are the institute's biggest challenges right now?

HARBERT: I always say that if you aren't at the table, then you might be on the menu, so our job is to make sure that we are always at the table when there are issues that are important to our members. Obviously, the Trump administration has been approaching energy issues much differently and in a way that is much more productive for us. So now, we want to help them get it right. We've been actively participating in the process to repeal and replace power plant regulations, we're heavily involved in efforts to streamline the permitting process for pipelines, and of course we're strong advocates for expanding access for oil and gas exploration both offshore and onshore. But we're up against well-funded, well-organized interests that oppose all traditional forms of energy, and we have our work cut out for us.

BIC: Why do Americans need to understand energy issues and be engaged with policymakers now more than ever? How does the institute educate Americans about energy issues?

HARBERT: The stakes are very high. Energy is both an economic issue and a national security issue for Americans. There's a lot of global demand for energy, and those needs are going to be met. Will we be the ones meeting them, or will energy be used as leverage by other nations overseas? Both for the sake of global security and for environmental benefit, we know that our nation is better positioned to meet the needs if we have the framework in place to allow that.

I mentioned our strong network of state and local chambers, and that's certainly a big part of what we do on education and outreach since they are in their communities every day and have the ability to engage in conversations with their elected officials from a different standpoint. But we also do a lot of direct engagement both in person and in print, as well as on the airwaves and online. We have a strong presence on social media and a dedicated grassroots email network.

BIC: The institute recently celebrated 10 years. What do you hope the institute can accomplish during the next 10 years?

HARBERT: I think that will be dictated by the continued investment and innovation that we see from the industry on a daily basis. Ten years ago, we were focused on how to import natural gas and deal with high gasoline prices. No one could have predicted just how dramatic this energy revolution would be, and I'm certainly not going to predict what is next! But we know that the industry will continue to innovate, new technologies will continue to come, and we're going to work to make sure that governments -- both federal and state -- are ready for it and able to take advantage of it.

For more information, visit www. globalenergyinstitute.org or call (202) 463-5558.